Improvement in clutches



P. HINKLE.

' CLUTCH.

Patented Feb. 22,1876.

Wltnesse PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP HINKLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPRovEMENT iN cLuTcHEs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 173,790, `dated February 22, 1876 application filed November 27, 1875.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP HINKLE, of San Francisco city and county, State of' California, have invented an Improved Clutch; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are suf'- iicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or imtion being that of' a monkey-wrench; and it,

consists of an outer rim and one side of' a case, which turns loosely upon a shaft, the side having a flange projecting inward from it. The other side of' the case is fast upon the shaft, and has an interior hub, from Which loose arms project toward the circumference.

These arms are notched or grooved to fit over the flange upon athe opposite side, and

' Vthey move loosely over it in one direction,

but are cramped upon it when moving in the opposite direction, as will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view.' Fig. 2

4shows the interior face of side B, with hub and arms. Fig.`3 is an interior view of' side D, showing flange I-I. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in plane, passing through axle. Fig. 5 is a view of' one of' the arms. l

A is the shaft, having the flange or side of' the case B and aliub, c, secured to it, as shown. The opposite side D of' the case and the rimE are formed in one piece, so that the edge of' the rimrts over the side B, and

makes a close case, the parts moving' over each other freely. The hub c is formed with depressions, into which the rounded ends of' the arms F t, so as to allow the arms to move freely about'this point. These arms extend out to a point near the rim, but do not touch it, and they may be two or more in number. A deep'groove, Gr, is formed in each arm eqnidistant from the center, and a flange, .lgis turned upon the inner face of the side` ofthe case. The grooves in the arms lit over this flange, and it lwill be manifest that if' the arms are turned a little to one sidel they will cramp upon the ange, and hold it fast on the principle of a monkey- Wrench. This action takes place when the shaft and hub are turned in one direction, and this either arrests the movement of the shaft, or causes the side D and rim E to move with it, as the case may be.

In order to prevent this result when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction, and allow it to move freely without the rim, a lug, I, is formed upon the side B, behind each arm F, and against which it rests, so as to stand in an exactly radial position, when it will be prevented from clasping the tiange, and will, consequently, move freely over it.

By this construction I am enabled to make a clutch which acts instantly with no slip, and I avoid the difficulty of' too great a pressure upon the rim, which is liable to be burst by the strain. Y v

I am aware that clutches have been constructed in which arms are used which hold by outward pressure against the rim, either by a ratchet and pawl, or by arms which bind bybeing inclined to one side, and I do nottherefore claim such a device; but

What l do claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is-

The combination, with the hub c secured to the shaft A, and having depressions, as described, of' the slotted arms F, the sideB of the case, having-interior ange H, and side of' the case B, having stationary lugs or stops I, all constructedand arranged to operate in the manner substantially as and for the purpose specied.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

PHILIP HINKLE. p.. s]

Witnesses:

JNO. L. BOONE, C. M. RICHARDSON. 

